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Pankaj AdvaniIndian professional billiards and snooker player.
Date of Birth: 24.07.1985
Country:  India |
Content:
- Pankaj Advani: India's Billiards and Snooker Legend
- Introduction to Billiards
- International Breakthrough
- Unprecedented Success in 2005
- Continued Success and Achievements
- Recognition and Legacy
Pankaj Advani: India's Billiards and Snooker Legend
Pankaj Advani is an Indian professional English billiards and snooker player. He is widely regarded as the most successful Indian billiards player after Geet Sethi.
Introduction to Billiards
Advani began playing billiards at the age of 10. He made his international debut in 2002 as a finalist in the Asian English Billiards Championship.
International Breakthrough
In 2003, Pankaj Advani made a significant breakthrough by winning the World Amateur Snooker Championship, defeating Pakistani Saleh Mohammad 11-6 in the final.
Unprecedented Success in 2005
2005 marked Advani's most successful year to date. He won the Asian Snooker Championship, as well as two World English Billiards Championships (in the time format and points format). Advani became the first Indian to win five major tournaments in a single year: the Asian Championship, two World Billiards Championships, the Junior Indian Championship, and the Senior Indian Championship. He also set a unique record by becoming the only player to win two world billiards championships in the same year.
Continued Success and Achievements
Advani's achievements extended beyond 2005. He won the gold medal in the men's singles event at the 2006 Asian Games, and the IBSF World Billiards Championships in 2007 and 2008. In 2009, he became the second Indian to win the professional World English Billiards Championship, where he defeated Mike Russell 2030-1253.
Recognition and Legacy
For his contributions to the sport of English billiards, Advani has been honored with numerous awards, the most prominent of which is the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sporting honor.
